Review Blog

Sep 02 2013

Superkid by Claire Freedman

Ill. by Sarah McIntyre. Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781407124063.
Recommended for 4-6 years of age. Themes: Heroes, Stories in rhyme,
Bullying.
'There's a boy quite ordinary, He looks like me or you, but in
secret . . . he is SUPERKID - There's nothing he can't do! '
Superkid's special powers assist him in all sorts of tricky
situations, in the classroom, dealing with bullies in the yard and
helping at home. Claire Freedman's rhyming text provides an exciting
jumping off point for Sarah McIntyre's crazy over the top cartoon
style drawings. Each page is jam-packed with action and there are so
many little surprises to be found before the reader turns the page.
The broccoli tree at dinner-time is an absolute winner, a very
relatable page for kids who have difficulty eating their vegetables.
Superkid fights the school bullies, assists in the dramas of bedroom
cleaning and in the unfortunate capture by a pirate crew. His skills
and powers prove to be a handy tool. The messy bedroom scene is one
of the funnier double page spreads. There is so much to take in
right down to Mum's bunny slippers.
Author Claire Freedman is a well known British picture-book author,
here she shows her understanding of encouraging a young audience to
face up to their challenges. Sarah McIntyre's illustrations are
colourful, fun and full of life, they really add the pizzazz to the
rhyme.
Rhyllis Bignell